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TIMES of MIDDLE COUNTRY C E N T E R E AC H • S E L D E N • L A K E G R O V E N O R T H

Vol. 16, No. 47

March 4, 2021

$1.00 BILL LANDON

Vaccine milestones

SBU distributes its 25,000th shot

A10

Scientific illustrator Luci Betti-Nash reflects on her career at SBU

SPACE RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBER ADDRESS

Julianne Mosher

Remembering the fallen

Suffolk County unveils new COVID-19 memorial — A3

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PAGE A2 • THE TIMES OF MIDDLE COUNTRY • MARCH 4, 2021

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Suffolk officials mark the opening of COVID-19 memorial BY JULIANNE MOSHER JULIANNE@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM Almost a year to the day of the first reported case of COVID-19 in Suffolk County, elected officials joined mourning families to remember the lives lost. On Monday, March 1, Suffolk County Presiding Officer Rob Calarco (D-Patchogue) with his colleagues and officials unveiled a new county COVID-19 memorial in Hauppauge. “Over this last year, I don’t think anybody at the beginning would have thought that we would have had so many trials and tribulations, so many challenges and so many losses,” Calarco said. Since March 2020, there have been more than 500,000 deaths nationwide from the virus, and just over 3,000 in Suffolk County. “That is a tremendous number of people,” Calarco added. “And it has left many of us mourning.” The wooden structure, located outside the Legislature’s William H. Rogers Building at 725 Veterans Memorial Highway, was built and donated by Smithtown Boy Scout Troop 888, and will be on display throughout the month of March. Families and loved ones are encouraged to write the names of those who have passed, tying the purple ribbons on the metal cords across the wooden planks. It’s a way, Calarco said, to memorialize them. “Because especially for those who were lost early on, family members weren’t able to lean on each other,” he said. “They weren’t able to be with their loved ones in the hospital due to restrictions. They weren’t able to have the normal funeral and wake process for their

friends and family. When we grieve, we need to have the community around us to support us.” Deputy County Executive Jon Kaiman spoke on behalf of County Executive Steve Bellone (D) who was not in attendance. “Three thousand people in this county lost their lives … that’s more than 3,000 families grieving,” he said. “We in Suffolk County stand with them. We grieve with them. We know that we’re in the process of getting through it, we’re getting through it together.” The first group of families able to share names tearfully thanked the county for honoring their loved ones. The family of Sgt. Keith Allison of Brentwood was the first to tie the ribbon. Allison, who spent 25 years in uniform with the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, died in December after a 17-day battle with the coronavirus. “I’m humbled to be here and to accept this ribbon in his name,” said his wife Brenda. “I know that he’s looking down smiling.” County Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. (D) said of his former colleague that he was “not only just a friend of mine, but a person who was always smiling, always helpful and always energetic and passionate about his job.” County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart came to support the Van Zeyl family. Lt. Robert Van Zeyl, of Selden, passed away from the virus on Jan. 20 after a two-week battle. He was the first active county police officer to succumb to COVID-19. “I think we all thought that we would be immune from this tragedy, and it really hit our family very hard, our police family,” Hart said. “Bob was out there every day. He didn’t stop. He didn’t back down during the most difficult of times in this pandemic. So,

Hailey Van Zeyl ties a ribbon on the new COVID-19 memorial in honor of her father, SCPD Officer Robert Van Zeyl. Photo by Julianne Mosher

we were honored to have him in our family, and we will always be honored to have you with us. And we’ll never forget what he’s done for us.” Van Zeyl’s ex-wife, Tina, joined their two children Hailey and Tyler in the emotional ribbon tying. Hailey had the honor of putting her dad’s name on the memorial. “It felt like I was honoring my dad,” she said. “I know he’s proud of me.” Anyone who has lost someone to COVID-19 may submit their loved one’s name for inclusion in the memorial online at scnylegislature. us/covid-19-memorial. The website also provides the option to share a photo and a

memory about the person. After the county receives the submission, county staff will write the loved one’s name on a ribbon and affix it to the memorial. Ribbons will also be made available to those who wish to write their loved one’s name and tie the ribbon themselves, at both the memorial in Hauppauge as well as a temporary structure on the East End in the lobby of the Evans K. Griffing Building at 300 Center Drive in Riverhead. Any ribbons tied in Riverhead will be incorporated into the memorial. More information is available at the above website.

SCPD suspends two officers after bodycam video shows them kicking suspect BY DANIEL DUNAIEF DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM Suffolk County Police Department suspended two officers for kicking Christopher Cruz, a 30-year-old homeless man who stole a car and injured two other officers, after he had been handcuffed. Cruz had stolen a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee in Port Jefferson Station late on the evening of Feb. 23. During a 35-minute chase, Cruz rammed two police cars, injuring two officers who were eventually treated and released from the hospital. Cruz, who has been charged with several crimes, including third-degree grand larceny, second-degree assault, third-degree criminal mischief and resisting arrest, was kicked by officers who now face their own criminal investigation. At the same time, four other officers, including a supervisor, who didn’t stop the assault on a handcuffed suspect, are also on

modified duty pending the investigation. “The matter is now in the hands of [District Attorney Timothy Sini’s] office, and I can confirm that there is a criminal investigation,” Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone (D) said during a press conference on Tuesday night. The two officers have been suspended without pay. “If we are to continue to build trust with all of our communities, we have to be transparent and we have to hold our officers to the highest standards,” SCPD Commissioner Geraldine Hart, said during the press conference. Hart called the incident “disturbing” and said the department would continue its internal investigation. The investigation of the officers’ behavior came to light after officials reviewed a recording from another responding officer’s body camera. “While Cruz was standing up and handcuffed, a 6th Precinct police officer pushed the arrestee forward from behind and kicked the back of his

leg,” Hart described. “The officer who initially pushed Cruz and one other officer kicked Cruz multiple times while he was on the ground.” Hart called the inaction of other officers “unacceptable” and said the “number of officers who did not intervene is a direct violation of our rules and procedures.” She called the actions against the officers “swift” and said the investigation would continue and could involve other police officers. The police made a formal referral to Sini (D), who was a former police commissioner, and had pledged to clean up the county’s law enforcement agency amid a scandal engulfing the former DA. Hart recognized that the public would express outrage at the video. “People will be rightfully angry and disappointed and I can tell you that I am, too,” Hart said. “This type of behavior cannot and will not be tolerated.” Hart added that the incident should serve as

a message to the rank and file that “we must be better. I expect our officers to act with respect and restraint. If you witness misconduct by a fellow officer, you are obligated to stop it.” Hart assured the public that the matter is “being taken very seriously.” Bellone, meanwhile, who also called the video “disturbing,” underscored the review the county was conducting of police policy. These types of reviews are occurring throughout the country, particularly after several high-profile incidents of police actions caught on video. The death of Minnesota resident George Floyd at the hands of police officers now charged with his murder, triggered numerous protests throughout the country. Bellone said the video of the Cruz arrest is a “stark example of why those [body cameras] are so vital and important. I can tell you that I will not move forward and present a police reform plan that does not include body cameras for the police department.”

PAGE A4 • THE TIMES OF MIDDLE COUNTRY • MARCH 4, 2021

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County

The last responders, funeral homes adapt during pandemic BY DANIEL DUNAIEF DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM They worked considerably longer hours, sometimes alongside people who came to help from other parts of the state during a time of need. They buried their own family members, sometimes urging out-of-state relatives to stay where they were. They counted the number of people who entered their funeral homes, making sure they complied with changing rules about the number of people allowed at the time. And, as with many other businesses, funeral directors maneuvered through the challenges of procuring personal protective equipment and supplies during the difficult and tragic early months of the pandemic. Funeral homes, which have sometimes been described as the “last responders,” have had to react to changing state regulations, protecting the families of those who come to pay their final respects — and their own staffs. During prepandemic times, “we might have had three or four wakes at one time,” said Fred Bryant, president of East Setauket-based Bryant Funeral Home. “That doesn’t happen now.” Bryant converted three rooms into one large room, which made it possible to have 50 percent of their capacity. Sergio Benites, managing partner at Bryant Funeral Home, said the business has allowed between 80 and 90 people at a time in the facility. Like other public gathering places, funeral homes initially could have up to 10 people. Over time, as the number of infections, hospitalizations and deaths declined, the state, through Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s (D) office, relaxed regulations, first increasing the limit to 33 percent of capacity and then raising that to

the current 50 percent. Even with the higher capacities, funeral home directors have sometimes asked people to wait for someone to leave the facility before allowing new people to enter. “It happened more than several times,” said Michael Connell, who runs the M.A. Connell Funeral Home in Huntington Station which was started by his grandfather in 1923, five years after the Spanish flu pandemic. As with many other funeral homes during COVID-19, M.A. Connell has had mourners wait in line in the parking lot. “When we reach our number, we make an announcement inside,” Connell said. Indeed, funeral directors have received guidance from several organizations during the pandemic. “It is encouraged that folks paying respects keep the time in the chapel to a minimum,” wrote Michael Gorton Jr., president of the Nassau-Suffolk Funeral Directors Association, in an email. “Pay your respects, offer condolences, have a comfortable conversation and be considerate of those who may be waiting to come in and pay respects. Because of capacity limits, there could be people waiting outside the building.” During the worst of the pandemic, Gorton, who is a licensed funeral director at McManusLorey Funeral Home in Medford, said funeral directors from outside Long Island came to the area to help. “The governor’s office allowed us to ‘deputize agents’ and allow nonlicensed people to help us with transfers as long as they were under the direct supervision of a licensed funeral director,” Gorton added. Funeral directors appreciate how mourners

Funeral service personnel at one of the Moloney Funeral Home locations wait for family to arrive for a drive-thru viewing, one of the ways to give mourners a chance to say last goodbyes during COVID-19. Below, a family gathers under an outdoor committal tent at one of the Moloney Funeral Home locations awaiting the completion of the cremation for their relative. Photos from Moloney Family Funeral Homes

have understood the circumstances of the pandemic and have shortened the time they spend on site. “People are tending to come and go at a faster rate,” said Peter Moloney, co-owner of Moloney Family Funeral Homes, which has eight locations, including in Port Jefferson Station and Hauppauge. “People are aware of the fact that other people may want to come in.” Some families have chosen to reduce the number of people who attend funerals, asking relatives who might be coming in from out of state to join the service through live streaming. When Connell’s mother Betty Ann died in May, he said his family went through the same difficult decision that hundreds of other families have had to make. “We decided we weren’t even going to have a public wake,” Connell said. “We had 10 people attend [who were all] immediate family.” The Connells spent an hour visiting at the funeral home, had a short prayer service and then went to the graveside. Some people met the family in the parking lot and followed in the procession, without getting out of their cars at the cemetery. Connell’s father, John, who had been married to his wife for close to 60 years, visited with his grandchildren, in a socially distanced setting, at his house. Like many others, Connell has not set a date for a celebration and memorial for his mother’s life. “Until we know we’re home free [with the virus], we’re not going to start the planning process,” he said.

Benites said Bryant Funeral Home still has about a dozen families that have postponed a larger event for their loved ones. “They still aren’t ready” for any larger or more elaborate gathering as a part of a memorializing event,” Benites said. “When they’re ready, we’ll go back and try to give them a celebration of life.” At times, grieving families have also had to wait to hold a service until close members of the family either have recovered from quarantine or have tested negative for COVID-19. Benites said around three to five families are waiting for their next of kin to finish quarantine before they hold a service. While these funeral homes are accustomed to thorough cleaning efforts, directors and owners said they have also complied with rules regarding disinfecting their sites between visits. Funeral homes, some of which have held services for more than one member of the same family over the past year during the pandemic, have provided their customers and visitors with help managing their grief. “We have more grief literature available to families during this time,” Moloney said. “The COVID pandemic has been very disruptive to the grief process. We’re all aware of the fact that people are grieving differently today.” After all the challenges of the pandemic, funeral directors anticipate that more residents on Long Island and throughout the country will likely consider preplanning funerals. “After we go through COVID, there will be a more obvious increase in the numbers of preplanned funerals,” Benites said.

PAGE A6 • THE TIMES OF MIDDLE COUNTRY • MARCH 4, 2021

County

BNB CEO prepared for second round of PPP

BY DANIEL DUNAIEF DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM Kevin O’Connor, CEO of BNB Bank, is focused on the bread and butter businesses of his bank and of the communities he serves: small businesses. O’Connor ensured that BNB, with its Bridgehampton National Bank branches, dove headfirst into the first Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, from the federal government in the first round, lending over $1 billion to more than 4,000 businesses. That is in addition to the $400 million Dime Bancorp, which plans to merge with BNB later this year, loaned to small businesses. In the second round, O’Connor expects about 30 to 40% of the businesses that received loans in the first round will apply for additional funding. In addition, O’Connor expects that customers who are seeking a second round of PPP will likely return to the bank they used in the first round, in part because businesses will be applying for a second draw on a loan, rather than for a new loan. “We’re hoping that makes the paperwork easier,” he said. So far, about 10% of the businesses that borrowed through the PPP have asked for forgiveness on their loan. Most of the businesses that sought forgiveness received it, especially if they used it for the anticipated purposes.

O’Connor is eager to see these small businesses, whom he lauded for their contributions to the areas they serve, survive the ongoing hardship created by the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time that a vaccine offers hope, these small businesses remain in perilous condition, as the percentage of positive tests continues to climb and hospitals handle an increase in patients. Small businesses “don’t have a unified voice,” said O’Connor. The BNB chief executive called these small businesses the “lifeblood” of the communities. The PPP program presents an opportunity for BNB to provide funding to a range of customers. The success of the program led non-customers who were friends of customers to seek out financial support for their struggling businesses from BNB. O’Connor said BNB hopes to expand their interactions with these new customers into fullservice relationships, providing a range of other banking products.

No Red Microphones

O’Connor said BNB has focused in recent years on enhancing the product knowledge from their employees. “We trained our people better on our technology so they can better explain it,” O’Connor said. “Branch managers weren’t using the mobile app. How can they sell it if they

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Kevin O’Connor, CEO of BNB Bank. Photo from BNB Bank

weren’t using it themselves?” While the technology hasn’t changed, it has become better for customers because bankers can explain it better.During the pandemic, O’Connor has made numerous efforts to reach out to bank employees, hosting conference calls and zoom calls. O’Connor urged bank employees to keep their cameras on during those calls. In smaller meetings, he also asked his coworkers to unmute their phones, to enable an open dialog among the staff. “If I see red microphones, I ask [that employees] turn them on. We’re talking here. This is a conversation,” he said.

Vaccinations

While he led the bank during the pandemic, O’Connor also experienced COVID firsthand, when he contracted the virus. He said his children were worried about him, but that his case was “pretty mild.” The virus “makes you recognize that we’re a part of something bigger, whether we’re talking about PPP or worry about trying to keep the lights on in your building,” he said. While some people are receiving the vaccine, O’Connor said he wasn’t comfortable requiring everyone to receive shots. “I’d be hard-pressed to do that,” he said. When it is his turn to get a shot, O’Connor said he would take the vaccine. While the vaccine has given him reason for optimism, he said the bank has been cautious in the last few weeks with its staff. “We’ve sent a lot of our employees home,” O’Connor said. “We’re back to a skeleton crew in Hauppauge. We’re monitoring our branches” amid an uptick in cases.

O’Connor and other bank executives are looking at the total number of branches the bank may need in the future. The company has continued to generate business in its branches, although some are “busier than others. We’re going to continue to look at that.” The Chief Executive described branches as “outposts” in the community, and believed that the branch decisions would be an “evolutionary process.” O’Connor said the virus may lead employees to a better awareness of the needs of their coworkers. “You may come to work every day, but another man or woman isn’t there. They may have an underlying health issue and don’t want to talk about it. You’d like to think it’s making better people of us. At some point, people who can, should do and people who can’t, let’s take care of them,” O’Connor said.

Merger

O’Connor said the combination with Dime is a true merger of equals. The top executives from the two banks represent a 50/50 split with Dime. “I feel comfortable that the culture will come together,” O’Connor said. “We will be a unique bank. There’s nothing like this. It’s truly Long Island-based.” O’Connor said the bankers at both institutions have a “passion for what we do.” And he respects entrepreneurs and small business owners, many of whom have pivoted to other products or modes of delivery for their products. “So many [small business owners] have made so many sacrifices,” he said.

MARCH 4, 2021 • THE TIMES OF MIDDLE COUNTRY • PAGE A7

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PAGE A8 • THE TIMES OF MIDDLE COUNTRY • MARCH 4, 2021

Health

Huntington Hospital infectious disease expert discusses latest COVID news BY DANIEL DUNAIEF DESK@TBRNEWMEDIA.COM Adrian Popp, chair of Infection Control at Huntington Hospital/ Northwell Health and associate professor of Medicine at Hofstra School of Medicine, spoke with TBR News Media newspapers to discuss vaccinations and COVID-19. Please find below an abridged and edited version of the discussion. If you’d like to listen to the entire interview, please go to tbrnewsmedia.com and click on the interview. TBR: Why do some people have a stronger reaction to a second shot? POPP: These two vaccines are very well tolerated. Yes, there are some side effects after getting the shots. Indeed, even in the trials, it has been shown that the second shot is sometimes more prone to have side effects. There is pain, tenderness at the site of the shot. Sometimes people can get fatigue, fever and even a chill. It is rare to have something more severe than that … From my experience, most people tolerate them well, including the second shot. TBR: Should people try to take at least a day off, if they can, after the second shot?

POPP: That is not necessarily unreasonable. A lot of my colleagues did take the shot later in the afternoon and then go home and rest for the evening. If you can afford to have a day off the next day, that’s probably not unreasonable. TBR: Does having the vaccine free people up to interact with others? POPP: What we know from the Moderna and Pfizer trials is that the effectiveness of the vaccination is 95 percent to prevent symptomatic disease … Can a vaccinated person develop a light form [of the disease]? In theory, yes. There are not completely safe in [not] transmitting the disease to someone else. TBR: Have the Black and brown communities, which have been somewhat resistant to taking the vaccine, been included in the clinical studies? POPP: Those studies with Pfizer and Moderna included these populations. They are well represented in these studies. There’s no significant difference in the side effects in African Americans, or less efficacy in the Black and brown communities …. [The Black and brown communities] should feel comfortable that it’s as safe or as efficacious as it is in a Caucasian person.

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TBR: Have people from the Huntington Hospital or Northwell community asked you about the safety of taking the vaccine? POPP: I do have conversations like this every day with different members of Huntington Hospital [as well as] the community at large … I bring up one very recent study that will probably help in kind of showing a few things. I’m going to bring in Israel, a smaller country with a centralized health care system that has been very good in vaccinating people …. More than 50 percent of their population has received the COVID vaccination. Specifically, the senior population, 65 and above, has received the vaccine in percentages even higher … In a study in the New England Journal of Medicine of more than 600,000 people who received the vaccine, [they] compared the incidence of COVID without the vaccine. They found the protection is more than 90 percent … That tells us the vaccine is very effective. TBR: What do you hear about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine? POPP: The best thing about the [J&J] vaccine is that it’s only one shot and the second thing is that it can be stored at normal temperature compared to the other vaccinations [which require deep freezing] … That allows it to be distributed more easily … It will probably be a good vaccine as well. TBR: After the shots, what is the immunity? POPP: After the first shot, approximately a week or two weeks after the first shot, you develop quite a significant level of antibodies. There is a certain amount of protection. With the second shot, the level of antibodies shoots up probably 10 times higher than after the initial shot … Full immunity is one week after you receive the second shot. TBR: Some reports suggest that people who have COVID and develop antibodies may only need one shot. Is that true? POPP: There are infectious disease experts looking into this. We do know that after getting COVID, you do develop a certain level of antibodies … That varies widely from person to

person … The jury is still out on this one. Truly, we have to look at it in a more scientific way. We’ll find out if this will be an option down the road. At this point, as the recommendation stands, you do have to get both shots, even if you had COVID disease before. TBR: Do we know more about why one person gets very sick and another has only mild symptoms? POPP: Up to 50 percent of people who get COVID are either asymptomatic or have really minor symptoms. There are risk factors for developing a serious disease. We know that obesity, hypertension, diabetes and specifically certain immunocompromised conditions are risk factors for more serious disease. I have seen older people in their 90s who do have a mild form of the disease, then I’ve seen somebody in his 40s who has very severe disease … There is no real good way of saying who will develop a more severe disease versus somebody else who will have a milder form. TBR: What about the aftereffects of COVID? POPP: I have seen quite a few cases of people who … develop quite severe symptoms. On the milder end, people have a loss of taste and smell. This can last for some time … From my experience, most people will recover from this. On the other hand, people with more severe illness, people who get hospitalized, I have to say that the virus can take a significant toll on that person. I have seen patients who have lost 20 to 40 pounds over a period of a month or a month and a half … Recovering from such a hit of being sick for such a prolonged period of time takes a toll on people. Some patients also develop some degree of cognitive impairment. TBR: What keeps you up at night? POPP: Even though [the infection rate] is coming down in New York, it is still not insignificant. It’s still an issue. Until we get … a significant number of our population vaccinated, we’re still going to be in trouble … The only way we can stop the whole thing is by vaccinating as many people as we can.

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PAGE A10 • THE TIMES OF MIDDLE COUNTRY • MARCH 4, 2021

Health

Fauci disappointed with ‘counterproductive’ political response to COVID BY DANIEL DUNAIEF DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

In response to a question about whether a vaccinated individual could be a carrier for COVID-19, Fauci said it is a “theoretical possibility — how likely that is, we do not know.” The vaccination might prevent someone from showing clinical signs of the disease, but it might not keep someone from being a carrier. He recommends people who have received the vaccine continue to wear a mask when they’re in the presence of people who have not been vaccinated, to prevent the possibility of infecting someone else.

Looking back on the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, expressed his frustration with the reaction to recommended safety measures. “Public health issues got entangled in the profound divisiveness in our society,” Fauci said in a public discussion with the College of William & Mary president, Katherine Rowe, last week. “When you’re dealing with a common enemy, which is the virus, it is very New York State vaccinations counterproductive to be divisive over virtually Snowstorms throughout the country everything you do.” this winter have disrupted the process of Fauci was frustrated that wearing a mask distributing vaccines. became a political statement, calling that New York State Department of Health said “ridiculous” and suggesting that it “accounted facilities where people scheduled appointments for a less-than-optimal response that this will connect with them before and during country had.” storms. The disagreements were based “not on facts “As has been the case for past postponements, and science, but on political differences,” he if any vaccine appointments at state-run sites said. In the next year, however, Fauci expressed are impacted by winter weather, they will be hope that the country would have the virus rescheduled over the following seven days,” a DOH spokesman said under control and that it in a statement. “New would eventually no longer Yorkers with appointments threaten public health. scheduled will receive “I believe we’re going an email or text message to get there within this to reschedule their calendar year,” Fauci said vaccination.” on the William & Mary Each resident who call. “The problem is that received a first dose at a a global pandemic requires state-run site will get a a global response and if we reminder email 24 hours don’t participate as [have] before their second dose the other developed nations appointment. in the EU and in the U.K. When residents of the and Canada and Australia, Empire State receive their if we don’t participate in a first shot, they are required program, in COVAX, that to schedule a second dose helps provide vaccines for during that appointment. the developing world ... Anyone who missed our problem will never go —Katherine Rowe their appointment for a away.” second shot should contact Indeed, last week, President Joe Biden (D) pledged $4 billion to the call center to reschedule, if possible. The state is required to keep a second dose the COVAX program at the G7 meeting. Fauci pushed an initial estimate back for on hand up to 42 days after a first shot, even the time when vaccines for the virus would be though people who receive the Pfizer vaccine available broadly to the United States population. should get their second dose three weeks after “One of the disappointments, which made the first shot and those who get the Moderna me change [the] estimate, the Johnson & vaccine should return four weeks later. After Johnson vaccine, which we anticipated would 42 days, the state site can give the vaccine to be coming in significant quantities in March someone else. New York State requires all providers to and April, we learned that they will not have significant quantities until likely May and keep a daily list of standby eligible people, in the event that an appointment opens up. June,” Fauci said. “As soon as providers are aware that there Reacting to a question from William & Mary Student Assembly president, Anthony Joseph, are more doses than people to be vaccinated, Fauci said, “Somebody like yourself, a young standby eligible individuals should be called, or other steps must be taken to bring additional person, will likely have to wait until May.”

‘When you’re dealing with a common enemy, which is this virus, it is very counterproductive to be divisive over virtually everything you do.’

Dr. Anthony Fauci recently reacted to the current state of the COVID-19 vaccine. Stock photo

eligible recipients to the facility or clinic before the acceptable use period expires,” the Health Department said in a statement. Recognizing that the vaccination process can go awry during storms, providers can administer the vaccine to other public facing employees if extra doses remain at the end of a clinic and no one from a priority population can arrive before the doses expire. As an example, the DOH suggested that commercial pharmacists who had already vaccinated eligible residents can offer the vaccine to members of the pharmacy department, store clerks, cashiers, stock workers and delivery staff. “This exception is only for the purpose of ensuring vaccine is not wasted,” the spokesman said. In remarks on Feb. 9, Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) indicated that the supply of vaccines continues to lag well behind the demand. “We now have about 10 million New Yorkers waiting on 300,000 doses,” Cuomo said. “The supply will only increase when

and if Johnson & Johnson is approved. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are ramping up but the ramp-up is relatively slow, so we won’t see a major supply increase from Pfizer and Moderna, nowhere near what we would need to make rapid progress against the 10 million.”

Stony Brook vaccinations

Stony Brook University, meanwhile, announced that it reached a milestone last week when it distributed its 25,000th vaccine, exactly a month after the site started administering the vaccine. That means the university has vaccinated more than one person per minute for each of the 11 hours it’s been providing shots. In a statement, President Maurie McInnis said she was “proud of the milestone” and called the effort by the university and Stony Brook Medicine “excellent work.” SBU Hospital is also assisting in developing point-of-distribution sites in underserved communities on Long Island.

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The Chelsea at Brookhaven is seeking

to join our team!

A JOB THAT I CAN ADD VALUE AND HAVE CAREER GROWTH

CITIZENS OPTIONS UNLIMITED. We need Direct Support Professionals. Call/Text Zach at 516-727-0507. See Display for more info.

Clerical exp. preferred. STONY BROOK Flex days/hours/shifts/ $18/hour Mon-Sun; 7am - 7pm

For immediate consideration, Call/Text Zach at 516.727.0507 or email zcorreale@ahrc.org

Are You Hiring? Looking for a

LONG HILL CARPENTRY 45 years experience All phases of home improvement. Old & Historic Restorations. Lic.#H22336/Ins. 631-751-1764 longhill7511764@aol.com

Clean-Ups LET STEVE DO IT Clean-ups, yards, basements, whole house, painting, tree work, local moving and anything else. Totally overwhelmed? Call Steve @ 631-745-2598, leave message.

Decks Cesspool Services MR SEWERMAN CESSPOOL SERVICE All types of cesspool servicing, all work guaranteed, family owned and operated since 1985, 631-924-7502. Licensed and Insured.

DECKS ONLY BUILDERS & DESIGNERS Of Outdoor Living By Northern Construction of LI. Decks, Patios/Hardscapes, Pergolas, Outdoor Kitchens and Lighting. Since 1995. Lic/Ins. 3rd Party Financing Available. 105 Broadway, Greenlawn. 631-651-8478. www.DecksOnly.com

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NANNY, NURSE, MEDICAL BILLER, CHEF, DRIVER, COMPUTER PROGRAMMER, PRIVATE FITNESS TRAINER...?

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Place your ad by Tuesday noon and it will appear in that Thursday’s editions.

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SERV ICES Carpentry

citizens-inc.org/careers

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

$18.50 NYC, $17 L.I. up to $13.50 Upstate NY! If you need care from your relative, friend/ neighbor and you have Medicaid, they may be eligible to start taking care of you as personal assistant under NYS Medi c a i d C D PA P r o g r a m . N o Certificates needed. 347-713-3553

COVID CLINIC VACCINE REGISTRATION STAFF, Clerical exp. preferred. Stony Brook. Flex days/hours/shifts/$18/hr. Mon-Sun., 7am-7pm. Apply: sbadministrativeservicesllc. appone.com

Employment

FINALLY,

PUBLISHER’S EMPLOYMENT NOTICE: All employment advertising in this newspaper is subject to section 296 of the human rights law which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, disability, marital status, sex, age or arrest conviction record or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. Title 29, U.S. Code Chap 630, excludes the Federal Gov’t. from the age discrimination provisions. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for employment which is in violation of the law. Our readers are informed that employment offerings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis.

Help Wanted

Home Improvement The Generac PWRcell, a solar plus battery storage system. SAVE money, reduce your reliance on the grid, prepare for power outages and power your home. Full installation services available. $0 Down Financing Option. Request a FREE, no obligation, quote today. Call 1-888-871-0194

Fences

Floor Services/Sales

SMITHPOINT FENCE. DEER PROBLEM? WE CAN HELP! Wood, PVC, Chain Link, Stockade. Free estimates. Now offering 12 month interest free financing. Commercial/Residential. 70 Jayne Blvd., PJS. Lic.37690H/Ins. 631-743-9797 www.smithpointfence.com.

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Furniture/Restoration/ Repairs REFINISHING & RESTORATION Antiques restored, repairing recane, reupholstery, touch-ups kitchen, front doors, 40 yrs exp, SAVE$$$, free estimates. Vincent Alfano 631-707-1228

Home Improvement ALL PHASES OF HOME IMPROVEMENT From attic to your basement, RCJ Construction www.rcjconstruction.com commercial/residential, lic/ins 631-580-4518.

BLUSTAR CONSTRUCTION The North Shore’s Most Trusted Renovation Experts. 631-751-0751 We love small jobs too! Suffolk Lic. #48714-H, Ins. See Our Display Ad

LAMPS FIXED, $65. In Home Service!! Handy Howard. My cell 646-996-7628

PAGE A14 • THE TIMES OF MIDDLE COUNTRY • MARCH 4, 2021

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SERV ICES Lawn & Landscaping

Landscape Materials

SETAUKET LANDSCAPE DESIGN Stone Driveways/Walkways, Walls/Stairs/Patios/Masonry, Brickwork/Repairs Land Clearing/Drainage,Grading/ Excavating. Plantings/Mulch, Rain Gardens. Steve Antos, 631-689-6082 setauketlandscape.com Serving Three Villages

Privacy Hedges -SPRING BLOWOUT-5/6ft Green Giant Regular price $199, Now only $69 each. FREE Installation/FREE delivery, Trees are selling fast! 518-536-1367 www. lowcosttreefarm.com

CARL BONGIORNO LANDSCAPE/MASON CONTRACTOR All phases Masonry Work:Stone Walls, Patios, Poolscapes. All phases of Landscaping Design. Theme Gardens. Residential & Commercial. Lic/Ins. 631-928-2110

Painting/Spackling/ Wallpaper SCREENED TOP SOIL Mulch, compost, decorative and driveway stone, concrete pavers, sand/block/portland. Fertilizer and seed. JOS. M. TROFFA MATERIALS CORP. 631-928-4665, www.troffa.com

ALL PRO PAINTING INTERIOR/EXTERIOR Power Washing, Staining, Wallpaper Removal. Free estimates. Lic/Ins #19604HI 631-696-8150. Nick

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Masonry

Painting/Spackling/ Wallpaper

BOB’S PAINTING SERVICE 25 Years Experience. Interior/Exterior Painting, Spackling, Staining, Wallpaper Removal, Staining and Deck Restoration Power Washing. Free Estimates. Lic/Ins. #17981. 631-744-8859 COUNTY-WIDE PAINTING INTERIOR/EXTERIOR Painting/Staining. Quality workmanship. Living and Serving Three Village Area for over 30 years. Lic#37153-H. 631-751-8280 LaROTONDA PAINTING & DESIGN Interior/exterior, sheetrock repairs, taping/spackling, wallpaper removal, Faux, decorative finishings. Free estimates. Lic. #53278-H/Ins. Ross LaRotonda 631-689-5998

WORTH PAINTING “PAINTING WITH PRIDE” Interiors/exteriors. Staining & deck restoration, powerwashing, wallpaper removal, sheetrocktape/spackling, carpentry/trimwork. Lead paint certified. References. Free estimates. Lic./Ins. SINCE 1989 Ryan Southworth. See Display Ad. 631-331-5556

Restorations LUX DEVELOPMENT GROUP Historical restorations, extensions & dormers, cedar siding & clapboard installation, basements, kitchens,doors & windows, finished carpentry & moulding, SEE OUR DISPLAY AD FOR MORE INFORMATION Call 631-283-2266.

JUNK CARS BOUGHT

FREE Pickup

Hyundais and Kias

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JUNK CARS BOUGHT

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RANDALL BROTHERS TREE SERVICE Planting, pruning, removals, stump grinding. Free Estimates. Fully insured. LIC# 50701-H. 631-862-9291

Highest prices paid for ﬁxable vehicles. Also buy motorcycles and muscle cars. ask for mark • 631-258-7919

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USED AUTO PARTS

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No Keys No Title No Problem

ARBOR-VISTA TREE CARE A COMPLETE TREE CARE SERVICE devoted to the care of trees. Maintenance pruning, water-view work, sun-trimming, elevating, pool areas, storm thinning, large tree removal, stump grinding. Wood chips. Lic#18902HI. Free estimates. 631-246-5377

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Tree Work

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TIMES BEACON RECORD NEWS MEDIA The TIMES of Huntington, Northport & E. Northport • Huntington • Greenlawn • Halesite • Lloyd Harbor • Cold Spring Harbor

• Miller Place • Sound Beach • Rocky Point • Shoreham • Wading River • Baiting Hollow • Mt. Sinai

The Village TIMES HERALD

The Port TIMES RECORD

• Stony Brook • Strong’s Neck • Setauket • Old Field • Poquott

• Port Jefferson • Port Jefferson Sta. • Harbor Hills • Belle Terre

The TIMES of Smithtown • Smithtown • Hauppauge • Commack • E. Fort Salonga • San Remo

• Kings Park • St. James • Nissequogue • Head of the Harbor

The TIMES of Middle Country • Selden • Centereach • Lake Grove

• Northport • E. Northport • Eatons Neck • Asharoken • Centerport • W. Fort Salonga

The Village BEACON RECORD

MARCH 4, 2021 • THE TIMES OF MIDDLE COUNTRY • PAGE A15

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HOME SERV ICES VINCENT ALFANO FURNITURE RESTORATION

Family

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DECKS ONLY

BUILDERS & DESIGNERS OF OUTDOOR LIVING BY NORTHERN CONSTRUCTION OF LI INC.

• Kitchen Cabinet Reﬁnishing • Upholstery • Table Pads • Water & Fire Damage Restoration • Insurance Estimates Licensed/Insured

105 Broadway Greenlawn 631.651.8478 www.DecksOnly.com

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DEER PROBLEM? WE CAN HELP.

6840

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LUX

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Development Group

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Historical Restorations Extensions & Dormers Cedar Siding & Clapboard Installation Basement Renovations Kitchens & Bathrooms Doors & Windows Finished Carpentry & Moulding

Craig Aliperti, Wood Floors,, LLC

Fine Sanding g & Refinishing g

Construction

10% OFF

Owner is a Three Village Resident for Over 30 Years

Wood Floor Installations

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Old Wood Floors Made Beautiful All Work Done By Owner

Additions & renovations, decks, windows, doors, siding, kitchens, baths, roofs & custom carpentry. We love small jobs too! Owner/Operator has 25+ years serving The North Shore

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PAGE A16 • THE TIMES OF MIDDLE COUNTRY • MARCH 4, 2021

Place your ad today Call 631.751.7663 or 631.331.1154

HOME SERV ICES REFERENCES AVAILABLE

45 YEARS EXPERIENCE

BOB’S PAINTING SERVICE 40 Y E A RS EX PER IENCE

longhill7511764@aol.com ✔ All Phases of Home Improvement ✔ Old & Historic Home Restorations ✔ Extensions & Dormers ✔ Kitchens & Baths

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CERTIFIED LEAD PAINT REMOVAL

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Licensed/Insured

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#37074-H; RI 18499-10-34230

CALLS PROMPTLY RETURNED

FREE ESTIMATES

Full Service contractor – complete jobs from start to ﬁnish

• Interiors • Exteriors • Powerwashing • Staining & Deck Restoration • Wallpaper Removal • Gutter Cleaning • Spackling & Wall Restoration

Since 1989

CO N S T R U C T I O N From Your Attic To Your Basement

ALL WORK GUARANTEED FREE ESTIMATES INTERIOR • EXTERIOR • POWERWASHING CUSTOM WORK • STAINING • WALLPAPER REMOVAL

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ALL PRO PAINTING

In Home Service !! Handy Howard

All Phases of Home Improvement

REFERENCES GLADLY GIVEN

FREE ESTIMATES Lic./Ins. (#17,981)

LAMPS FIXED $ 65

RCJ

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INTERIOR • EXTERIOR

SPECIALIZING IN FINISHED BASEMENTS

MATERIALS CORP

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www.rcjconstruction.com

Taping Spackling

Topsoil * Mulch * Compost

(631) 580-4518

Decorative Finishes

Power Washing

Fine Sand * Paver Sand * Concrete Sand

COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL • LIC. #H-32198/INS | OWNER OPERATED

RANDALL BROTHERS TREE SERVICE

Wall Stone, Moss Rock, Dive Rock, Steppingstones, Boulders, Gravel, Salt Sand, Rock Salt, Decorative Stone, Block, Portland, Mortar, New and Used Cobblestones, RR Ties, Fertilizer, Pipe, Drainage Stone and Supplies, Burlap, Grass Seed and Tools

PAINTING & DESIGN

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MARCH 4, 2021 • THE TIMES OF MIDDLE COUNTRY • PAGE A17

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R E A L ESTAT E PUBLISHERS’ NOTICE

Professional Properties

25A SETAUKET On way to supermarkets. Hi visibility office for rent on 25A in charming stand alone professional office building. 650 sq. ft. Private entrance, 2 private bathrooms, private A/C and heating controls. Built-in bookcases. Light and bright. Ample parking. Previous tenants included; an attorney, an accountant and a software developer. Call 631-751-7744.

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small space

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All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.” We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

Oﬃces For Rent/Share

RESULTS BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG

SETAUKET, 25 A CORNER OFFICE SUITE: high visibility, large plate glass window, private bath, own thermostat, private entrance, off street parking. Village Times Building. Call 631-751-7744

Rentals PORT JEFFERSON COMPLETELY FURNISHED, beautiful, spacious, 1 BR apartment. Quiet, private entrance, patio, giant windows, Utilities and Direct TV/WiFi included. 631-473-1468

Rentals to Share Rentals OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND. Best selection of full/partial week rentals. FREE Color Brochure. Holiday Real Estate, Inc: 1-800-638-2102 Online reservations: www.holidayoc. com. $50 discount - new rentals. Code: “ToTheBeach2021” (Expires 2021-06-01)

OFFICE MATEEAST SETAUKET Pyschotheraphy office, bathroom and waiting room to share, great location, highly desirable. 631-767-5153, JanninePergolla11@gmail.com

TO SUBSCRIBE CALL 751-7744

101872

Real Estate Services

HOUSE HUNTING? visit our website

www.tbrnewsmedia.com

click on Real Estate

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COMMERCI A L PROPERT Y

ADS

•

Call: 631.751.7744

CALL 631-751-7663 • 631-331-1154

DEADLINE: TUESDAY NOON FOR THURSDAY’S PAPER.

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SINGLE $189.00 4 wks + 1 FREE DOUBLE $277.00 4 wks + 1 FREE

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COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL • PROFESSIONAL PROPERTY

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Blues Man Piano Tuning Brad Merila Certified Piano Technician 6 Barnwell Lane, Stony Brook

TIMES BEACON RECORD CLASSIFIEDS ■ 631.331.1154 0R 631.751.7663

PAGE A18 • THE TIMES OF MIDDLE COUNTRY • MARCH 4, 2021

Editorial

TBR News Media Editor Julianne Mosher

Women in journalism

It’s pretty funny. Journalism was always known as a male-dominated field. Back in the day, women were mostly secretaries in the field — a select few would end up publishing their own works like the famous Nellie Bly. But even so, thanks to the brave and loud people who fought for women’s rights all those years ago, we’re allowed to do what we do. In celebration of Women’s History Month this March, we thank them, from the bottom of our hearts. Now it’s 2021 and a lot has changed since Bly took a trip around the world in 72 days and uncovered the horrors of mental institutions in the late 1880s. TBR News Media currently staffs primarily women — its three editors are all female. We’ve had men work here before, but it just happened to work out that the majority of employees are now female. Although the world has given our gender more rights than before, it’s still tough out there for women in journalism — between community to national levels, broadcast, radio, print and the web. Our colleagues have been harassed on the street, cat called, grabbed. Some of us have been victim blamed or spoken to in a condescending way. Some of us in journalism don’t earn as much as our male counterparts — even on Long Island (yes, equal pay still does not exist). But yet, women are still out there talking to you, telling your stories, being as empathetic as we can be when interviewing, photographing, taking videos and writing an article. We have a lot to be thankful for, but there still needs to be change. We need to be paid properly for what we do. We need to be thanked for the work we do. We need respect — and not to be grabbed or harassed while we do our jobs. This applies not only to us but all the women out there who are doing their best to feed their families, achieve their goals and to make their mark on the world.

WRITE TO US … We welcome your letters. They should be

no longer than 400 words and may be edited for length, libel, style and good taste. We do not publish anonymous letters. Please include a phone number and address for confirmation. Email letters to julianne@tbrnewsmedia.com or mail them to Times of Middle Country, P.O. Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733.

Letters to the Editor

Hearings to be held on police reform, reinvention plans

The Suffolk County Legislature this month is being presented with plans to reinvent policing in our county, and we are opening an extensive public comment period to give community members every opportunity to share their thoughts with us. The plans were created pursuant to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Executive Order No. 203, “NYS Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative,” which directs that each local government entity with a police agency perform a comprehensive review of current police practices and develop a plan to reinvent policing. The crux of the initiative is to identify the needs of communities, promote community engagement to foster trust, fairness and legitimacy and address any racial bias and disproportionate policing of communities of color. The legislature will hold three virtual public hearings covering both the Suffolk County Police Department’s reform plan and the Sheriff’s Office’s reform plan. Members of the public can weigh in at special meetings of the legislature’s Public Safety Committee via Zoom at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 11 or Thursday, March 18. To speak at either of those hearings, sign up at scnylegislature.us/PublicSafetyPH.

A public hearing will also be held on Tuesday, March 16 at 2 p.m. during the legislature’s general meeting. To speak at that hearing, sign up at scnylegislature.us/ publichearing. Each speaker will have the floor for three minutes. The hearings will be livestreamed on the legislature’s website. The legislature’s rules do not require such a substantial public comment period, but the critically important nature of these plans calls for going above and beyond. These two reform plans are about our future; not only will they affect residents today, but they will also impact generations of residents long after us. Essential to our due diligence as my colleagues and I weigh these reform plans will be understanding how our constituents feel about them, so we want to make sure that everyone who wants to speak has the opportunity. Meaningful change should not be instituted in a vacuum. For change to be successful — to really take hold and become a part of our community’s culture — it needs buy in from stakeholders. As elected officials, we have a responsibility to our constituents to ensure that they are being heard. This is why we are holding three public hearings. This is why

On Jan. 4, U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.) introduced H.R. 1 in the House of Representatives. It is a bill known as For the People Act of 2021 to expand Americans’ access to the ballot box, reduce the influence of big money in politics, strengthen ethics rules for public servants and implement other anti-corruption measures for the purpose of fortifying our democracy. A March vote has now been set, as both the Democrat and Republican parties develop their positions.

It is vitally important that we citizens take a stand now. Democrats will support H.R. 1, as it embodies almost all their democracy reform aspirations. The legislation aims to substantially ease access to the ballot box, curb the role of money in politics, end partisan gerrymandering and tighten government ethics. Republicans seem certain to oppose it unanimously. In fact, on Feb. 17, they launched two nationwide efforts to make voting more difficult in 2022.

Say ‘Yes’ to For the People Act

we are having them in the evening and in the afternoon, so that people can speak at a time that is convenient for them. This is why we are not voting on these plans until we have heard from the community. Government is about public service, and to serve the public we need to include the public. The Suffolk County Legislature must vote on the reform plans by the end of the month. We must ensure these plans address the root of fears from people on both sides of the discussion and build on the initiatives already underway to establish trust and confidence between our law enforcement agencies and the communities they protect. To do that, we need to hear from you. Police reinvention will be a part of our legacy as the people living in Suffolk County in 2021, and we should all be a part of it. I encourage all who are interested to read more about the plans, watch the hearings, and speak up if you have something to say. For more information, visit suffolkcountyny.gov/Police-Reform and suffolkcountysheriffsoffice.com/policereform.

Rob Calarco (D-Patchogue) Presiding Officer Suffolk County Legislature

The package will stand little chance in this 50-50 Senate unless we, as the potential recipients of this bill’s reforms, actively support it. I urge you to call our senators to confirm your support of H.R. 1: Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) at 631-753-0978; Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) at 631-249-2825.

Wake up before it’s too late

Rita Edwards South Setauket

Congratulations to all the President Joe that a new wall has been built around the our country. Wake up before it’s too late. Biden [D] supporters including the unions Capitol building to protect the “elite” in It’s time to elect responsible politicians that voted for him. Due to you electing Washington, D.C. in our country. Unfortunately, when you We are on the verge of becoming a have so much hate, the ability to think Biden, thousands of workers have lost their jobs, and gas and oil prices, as well as socialist-communist country because of intelligently is compromised and all the taxes, are now going to go up. In addition, your hatred for former President Donald positive accomplishments in the past four our First and Second Amendment rights Trump [R]. Over 74 million Americans years are now destroyed. are disappearing, and the border wall are not going to let Biden, Nancy Pelosi is being destroyed which protected the [D-CA] and Chuck Schumer [D-NY], as Richard Esopa citizens of America. It is ironic though well as the rest of their followers, destroy Miller Place The opinions of columnists and letter writers are their own. They do not speak for the newspaper.

MARCH 4, 2021 • THE TIMES OF MIDDLE COUNTRY • PAGE A19

Opinion

Conversations about vaccinations, college and conferences

n my daily conversations with a range of people over the last week, I have heard stories I thought I’d share, as a reﬂection of the reality of our lives. The ﬁrst involved a discussion with Joe about his vaccination. Joe had been trying to sign up for a COVID vaccination for weeks. He thought he’d landed a coveted vaccination appointment at Jones Beach. Driving out there for a 6 p.m. appointment, he drove D. None in circles. The site had the of the above wrong address, he BY DANIEL DUNAIEF said. In addition, even the correct address, which had a phone onsite that wasn’t working, naturally, was closed

that day because the winds were too high. “Who would put tents up on Jones Beach?” Joe asked, his voice barely rising but his frustration evident from the time wasted trying to get a vaccination that would allow him to do a job that required interacting with the public. “If you want to build a tent, put it somewhere that’s not as windy. It wasn’t even snowing.” Fortunately, Joe, who spent more time the next day sharing his experience with a vaccination operator, was able to schedule a make-up appointment much closer to home. The next day, I spoke with Matthew, who is worrying about his son Jim, who is a sophomore in college. Jim, you see, has already received a COVID warning. A second warning or infraction could send his son home, which would, as Matthew put it, “not be good for anybody.” As it turns out, Jim has a girlfriend, Sarah. Normally, that wouldn’t be such a cause for concern for his parents or for the university. Still, with his girlfriend living in a different

penitentiary, I mean, dormitory, Jim is not allowed to visit with Sarah. The problem is that Sarah, who is an excellent and committed student, not only works hard at school, but also inspires Jim to expend considerable additional academic effort. If Jim stops seeing Sarah, which he may do to comply with school rules designed to protect the campus from spreading the dangerous virus, he will miss time with his close friend, while he will also likely not study as hard. My friend Matthew advised Jim to be careful and comply with the rules, although I could tell that he felt his own return on the investment he spends for college will likely be higher if Jim spends more time with his studious friend. Finally, I spoke with Paul, a friend who regularly attended conferences before COVID shut all those events down. Paul traveled at least four times a year to meetings all over the world, visiting interesting places but, more

importantly, speaking with people in his field. One day in 2019, Paul was sitting in one such conference and was taking notes. As the conference ended, he and the man sitting next to him, whom he’d never met, struck up a conversation. The man suggested a follow-up effort to the work that might help the industry. Realizing he had the ability to do exactly what the stranger suggested, Paul asked if the man would mind if he used the idea. The stranger was delighted and a friendship, and an idea, was born. I asked Paul how much he missed conferences and if he planned to attend them when the world reopened. He said he would not only jump at the chance, but might even attend conferences he wouldn’t have previously considered, just to benefit from such random and potentially beneficial interactions. His only hesitation is that he hasn’t gotten his vaccination yet. He wondered what I thought about driving out to Jones Beach.

Choices, and possibly regrets, that define a life

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What are you doing for enrichment these days, now that you can’t see a Broadway play or go to the opera or comfortably travel to new countries?” asked a longtime friend the other day. “Do you feel like you are in a desert?” I had to think about that for a moment. True, those events she mentioned that I so enjoy have been on hold throughout this unimaginable pandemic we are enduring, and I certainly miss them. While I have my work Between with the newspapers you and me and digital media that keeps me happily BY LEAH S. DUNAIEF occupied, the pleasure I take in the cultural side of my life has not disappeared. It’s just changed. I’ll tell you how and see if you agree.

Yes, I love to travel. But, you know, reading books and taking trips have much in common. A faithful subscriber, who writes to me often and sends me clippings that he ﬁnds interesting, sent me a column from The Wall Street Journal by Elizabeth Bernstein. “Books expand our world, providing an escape and offering novelty, surprise and excitement, which boost dopamine,” she comments. “They broaden our perspective and help us empathize with others. And they can improve our social life, giving us something to connect over.” She could just as correctly be describing travel. Bernstein goes on to quote Mitchell Kaplan, owner of independent book stores Books & Books and co-founder of the Miami Book Fair. “You disconnect from the chaos around you. You reconnect with yourself when you are reading.” I certainly agree. At the moment, I am reading The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. In this New York Times bestseller, he takes up a subject that has at one time or another occurred to all of us: what if I had taken another road in my earlier life? It brings to mind the Robert

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Frost poem, “The Road Not Taken,” as it deals with the many choices the young heroine in the novel could have made differently. And ultimately, the story reconnects us with ourselves, as travel does for me. What if I had gone south instead of north on my trip? What would I have experienced? Whom would I have met? That is not so different from: what if I had gone to a different college, taken a different major, married a different person, settled in a different place? Books, like travel, stimulate, entertain, and if they are good books with universal themes, speak to you personally. Of course, you don’t get to eat the different native cuisine when you read that you do when you travel. Books and travel: analogous but not the same. Yes, books are a magic carpet that can transport you to any place in the universe, but I surely do miss the physicality of travel, of throwing a few articles of clothing and my toothbrush into a suitcase and hitting the road. As to other enrichment in my life, I have become captivated by movies on streaming services like Netﬂix and Hulu. Well, some of

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those films offer cultural enrichment, some just good old entertainment. I fell in love with Outlander, the time-travel series I stayed up until all hours binge-watching, as I have previously mentioned. Since then there have been many that I would recommend, including some that were finalists for the Golden Globes awards that I was able to watch on my Smart TV. Nomadland, which won for best motion picture, is about a slice of life in America that few of us see. The story follows an older widow who outfits her vehicle so that she can live in it and travels around the Southwest, working occasional spot jobs to sustain her along the way. She meets up with others doing the same, and they are mutually supportive even as they are fiercely independent. Her journey is one of self discovery, revealed through her choices, even at an advanced age. Others I have enjoyed include The Dig, The Trial of the Chicago Seven, East Side Sushi, Penguin Bloom, Red Sea Diving Resort and the delightful series, Firefly Lane. I don’t feel like I am in a cultural desert, but I want it all back.

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